Olympique Marseille needed a player like him — Nigerian legend explains Tochukwu Nnadi signing

Former Super Eagles midfielder Wilson Oruma has explained why Olympique Marseille moved to sign Nigerian midfielder Tochukwu Nnadi, Afrika Foot reports.

The 22-year-old midfielder completed his transfer from Zulte Waregem earlier this week and has already been spotted in training sessions before their clash against Paris Saint-Germain this weekend.

Speaking on Nnadi’s move to France, Oruma insists the Ligue 1 club needed a player with his work rate and intensity.

The former international noted Nnadi’s potential to strengthen Marseille’s midfield as the club competes on multiple fronts this season.

Tochukwu Nnadi to Olympique Marseille — Tochukwu Nnadi. Photo Credit: Marseille/X

While he acknowledges areas for growth, he believes the young Nigerian has the qualities to thrive in Ligue 1 and adapt quickly to the demands of his new team.

‘Tochukwu Nnadi is a dedicated player’

“Tochukwu Nnadi is a dedicated player, admirable in his physical and athletic power. He is a young man with stamina who can cover several areas on the pitch. He possesses an aggressiveness that allows him to win back a lot of balls. He has a good right foot which gives him the ability to restart play effectively and support attacking actions,” Oruma told Africa Foot.

The former attacking midfielder also noted Nnadi’s ability to inject energy into games. This, Afrik Foot understands, is a quality Marseille’s coaching staff targeted when signing the midfielder.

Tochukwu Nnadi fight for the ball during a soccer match between SV Zulte Waregem and RAAL La Louviere — Tochukwu Nnadi. Copyright: Imago

Wilson Oruma reveals areas for improvement

Oruma cautioned that Nnadi still needs to manage his energy efficiently:

“He needs to improve his energy management. Certainly, he brings a certain intensity to his team’s game through repeated efforts, but he sometimes overdoes it with his excessive commitment. He’s a young player, and I think he’ll use the pressure at Marseille to grow as a player,” he added, as quoted by Topmercato.

Tochukwu Nnadi joins Olympique Marseille — Tochukwu Nnadi. Copyright: xVincentxKalutxImago

Despite this, the consensus is that Nnadi’s hunger and stamina make him a promising addition capable of handling the rigours of French football.

Olympique Marseille set to benefit

“One thing is certain, Tochukwu will bring grit, freshness, and a carefree attitude to the Marseille club’s midfield,” Oruma said. “Given OM’s objectives this season, they needed a player like him with such a high work rate.”

Nnadi, who recently joined Marseille from Zulte Waregem for €6 million, is expected to gradually integrate into the squad, with his Ligue 1 debut likely coming this weekend after a few training sessions.